By Sarah Musnicky
What starts off as an already tense homecoming shifts into something more for estranged daughter Emily Wyland (Brittany O'Grady) in IN OUR BLOOD. Written by Mallory Westfall and directed by Pedro Kos, whose documentary filmmaking experience comes in handy here, this latest addition to the found-footage horror genre shows promise. But a hastily accelerated final act reveals more questions than answers, setting up a questionable future due to its less-than-successful payoff.
After receiving a letter from her estranged mother, Sam (Alanna Ubach), Emily makes her way to Las Cruces, New Mexico, with her colleague, Danny (E.J. Bonilla). Emily plans to make a documentary about her journey to reacquaint with her mother, but because it's a horror film, things don't go exactly as planned. The morning after an incredibly emotional session on camera, Emily's mother goes missing. This comes hot after the reveal that one of her mother's friends has been presumed dead.
The ensuing mystery surrounding Sam's disappearance and Emily's quest for answers is the driving force of IN OUR BLOOD. The two camera perspectives, switching between Emily's phone and Danny's camera, give us an intimate view of the characters on their journey. As the mystery deepens and danger looms, their true nature comes into play, causing cracks to form between the two.
Emily jumps needlessly into danger the longer the search goes. Ruled by emotion, she charges head-on, creating that natural horror movie moment when audiences yell at the screens. O'Grady portrays Emily with subtle vulnerability and skepticism but gradually unravels when Emily becomes desperate. Who could judge her? She's a daughter looking to reconnect with her mother.
Danny is the audience proxy in IN OUR BLOOD. Bonilla plays him with such likable charm that you immediately want to be friends with him offscreen. Hoping to turn his life around after choice decisions from his youth, this documentary is the chance for him to overcome his mistakes. As the danger heightens, Danny wants to get out, choosing safety over answers.
We learn more about the vulnerable people of Las Cruces in the midst of their struggles. IN OUR BLOOD is not Kos's first time focusing on vulnerable communities. His documentary short, Lead Me Home, looked at the homelessness crisis on the West Coast. Much like Lead Me Home, the topics surrounding addiction, the homeless population of Las Cruces, and even family barely dive below the surface.
If more had been done to explore these topics, the twist in IN OUR BLOOD might have felt more earned. Instead, it comes as a surprise due to how out of left field it seems. Not helped is the dialogue, delivered earnestly by Krisha Fairchild, making an otherwise serious film end on an out-of-character, over-the-top note. The film's final minutes ring painfully hollow as a set-up for potential future installments gives way to a slapped-on conspiracy.
The found footage genre is difficult to make feel fresh and new. Pedro Kos's directorial debut, IN OUR BLOOD, highlights potential. The footage's look and feel are clean and crisp, painting an honest picture of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Unfortunately, the film's final act sucks out the air from the room, leading to a dismal payoff that will have viewers asking more questions than not. This is despite the clues left along the way.
IN OUR BLOOD had its world premiere at the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival.
Comments